The chief executive of Renault was forced to accept the resignation of his
second-in-command yesterday as the French carmaker tried to restore its
reputation after wrongfully dismissing three executives.

Patrick Pélata resigned as Renault’s chief operating officer after an internal
audit revealed “serious dysfunctions” in the manufacturer’s handling of the
scandal, in which the men were alleged to have been spying for China.

Mr Pélata will remain within the group, but the development is still a fresh
blow to Carlos Ghosn, who had refused his resignation last month.